The Council of the District of Columbia voted on Tuesday to conduct an investigation into Councilman Trayon White related to his federal bribery charges and other possible violations of council rules.
This was the first council meeting since White was arrested by FBI agents outside of a luxury high-rise in the Navy Yard neighborhood last month. He is accused of accepting a $156,000 bribe in exchange for using his position of power to push for city officials to re-sign several contracts for violence intervention services valued at $5.2 million. White has pleaded not guilty on federal charges.
The motion for the investigation was passed unanimously by the council, with White and Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie, the chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating White, both voting “present.”
Every member of the council is on the committee with the exception of White.
In conducting its investigation, the council will hire Latham and Watkins for assistance. McDuffie told NBC Washington that the investigation will cost taxpayers $400,000.